Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Magician pulls tigers from proposal for Las Vegas show

Empty Lot

Wade Vandervort

Magician Jay Owenhouse would make this empty lot at Paradise Road and Convention Center Drive the future site of his show featuring tigers — if he can get government approval to move forward.

Magician and illusionist Jay Owenhouse, who proposed a magic show featuring three tigers near the Strip, is altering his application with Clark County to exclude the animals.

Commissioners on Wednesday were scheduled to consider the proposal, which called for the tigers to be housed in a temperature-controlled sanctuary on a lot on Paradise Road and Convention Center Drive.

The applicant said they will be withdrawing their request to have tigers as part of their application, county spokesman Dan Kulin wrote in an email.

“I appreciate Jay Owenhouse’s decision and look forward to hearing his revised proposal,” said Commissioner Tick Segerblom, who represents the district where the show is proposed.

The proposal from Owenhouse, a part-time Las Vegas resident who calls Montana home, drew criticism from animal rights activists, community members and county officials. Activists were concerned the environment would be cruel to the tigers, and county officials expressed concerns about whether the location was appropriate for the tigers.

“It’s a big deal this didn’t go through in (Vegas) of all cities, given that our economy is powered by entertainment,” said Jeff Dixon, Nevada state director for the Humane Society of the United States. Dixon had spoken against the proposed show during the virtual town hall. “I think the voices of the humane advocates were heard loud and clear. My guess is that Mr. Owenhouse saw the writing on the wall.”

While Owenhouse was steadfast that both the public and his tigers would be safe, he said the decision to pull his tigers off the application was made following concerns from the Clark County Planning Commission.

The magic show was previously approved in July 2020 at a different location near Mandalay Bay, but the owner of the property lost ownership and Owenhouse had to find a new site, Owenhouse said. With the new site, the planning department expressed concerns about the level of noise and traffic as well as the proximity to more residential spaces.

“To be honest, I disagree,” Owenhouse said. “I know the temperament of our tigers, and the safety practices that (we) have. But I also respect the department’s decision.”

The changes to the application will take a couple weeks to process, Owenhouse said, and the hearing has been continued to Feb. 2.

It’s still going to be a great show, Owenhouse said. While the show features his whole family, if his tigers have to sit out this time, he respects that.

“We’ll proceed as planned,” Owenhouse said. “People will still get the chance to see a world-class magic show. … I think people are going to like it.”